Mobile Food Vendor Permit

Required by any operation that provides food to the public and operates from a pushcart or a motorized vehicle.

The City of Evanston issues the MOBILE FOOD VENDOR PERMIT to pushcarts or hold/cold holding vehicles (ready-to-eat food is pre-packaged) and the MOBILE FOOD VEHICLE VENDOR LICENSE to commercially-manufactured, motorized mobile food units (ready-to-eat food is cooked, wrapped, packaged, processed, or portioned). In neither case may the food for public consumption be prepared or stored in the home.

TERM: Calendar Year.

FEE: Per cart or vehicle. Mobile Food Vendor fee is based on food-handling risk category. See Fee Schedule. Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor license fee is $500 per calendar year; $250 for the first year of operation if the license is issued after July 1.

RENEWABLE. No. An application must be submitted and an inspection of the cart or vehicle scheduled each year.

TRANSFERABLE: No.

CONTACT: Ellyn Golden, Environmental Health Licensing Coordinator, (847) 866-2947 or egolden@cityofevanston.org
 

APPLICATION:

Mobile Vendor Permit Application

Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor License Application

IMPORTANT: Mobile Food Vehicles licensed under the Mobile Food Vehicle Vendor license must be owned and operated by the owner or agent of a licensed food establishment in the city, and must be affiliated with that establishment.

  • Areas of sale (lakefront, parks, schools, business district) are restricted. See MAP.
  • All regulations concerning food safety apply.
  • The items for sale are restricted by the type of equipment used for food storage and food handling and the extent of food handling.
  • All items for sale must come from an approved source.

Evanston City Code

  • Title 8 Chapter 26 Mobile Food Vehicle Vendors
  • Mobile Food Vendors
    • Title 3 Chapter 13-2 License Required
    • Title 3 Chapter 13-9 Evanston Township High School Area
    • Title 3 Chapter 13-10 Hours Peddling Prohibited
    • Title 3 Chapter 13-11 Vehicle Restrictions
    • Title 3 Chapter 13-12 Areas Surrounding Schools
    • Title 7 Chapter 11-6(F) Regulations on City Beaches
    • Title 10 Chapter 4-3(B) Parking Restrictions in Business Districts

State of Illinois